Community Health Assessments

The Rapides Foundation is dedicated to improving the health status of Central Louisiana through a focused program of grantmaking.

To assure our grant decisions are based on current, valid and locally specific data, the Foundation has contracted with experts to perform Community Assessments in our nine-parish service area.

Our sixth, most recent assessment was released in 2018 and builds upon work begun more than a decade earlier.

The Foundation in 1997 contracted with the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine to perform our first Community Health Assessment. Tulane researchers gathered data through the use of written and telephone surveys, interviews and focus groups, as well as through the use of local, state and federal databases. They also compiled an inventory of community resources in partnership with health and human service organizations in Central Louisiana.

At the end of the survey period, the research team met with The Rapides Foundation administration to review their findings and identify the most pressing and important issues that affect the health and well-being of Central Louisiana.

In 2001, The Foundation contracted with Professional Research Consultants Inc. of Omaha, Neb., to conduct a second community health assessment to build on the work begun in 1997. It provided yet more insight into the health of our communities. Then in 2005, 2010 and 2013, the Foundation once again conducted assessments of its nine-parish service area, updating the health assessment and broadening its data-collection efforts.

PRC was again used to conduct our most recent assessment. The survey instrument used for the 2018 study was based largely on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, and customized questions addressing gaps in indicator data relative to health promotion and disease prevention objectives and other recognized health issues. The final survey instrument was developed by The Rapides Foundation and PRC, and is similar to the previous surveys used in the region, allowing for data trending and comparisons with the rest of the state and nation, ultimately providing more insight into the health of our communities.

YRBSS Report

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS)

In 2007, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017, the Foundation conducted surveys among Central Louisiana’s public high school students in grades 9-12. The studies were based on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System’s national school-based survey, which is administered by state, local education and health agencies on odd years. The primary content areas in the questionnaire include: nutrition, weight, physical activity, tobacco use, alcohol and other drug use, and violence/injuries. A set of core questions were maintained in all years to allow for data trending and comparisons with the state and nation. The 2011 findings include trending data from previous years, and comparisons to the 2015 national data which was available at the time of publication. If you have questions about the YRBSS report, please contact Director of Evaluation Akeshia Singleton at 318-443-3394 or 1-800-994-3394.

Viewing Assessments

To view the assessments for The Rapides Foundation's nine-parish service area or for your individual parish please click one of the sections below, then choose which assessment to view. If you have questions about the assessments, or to obtain a copy of the assessments on CD, please contact Director of Communications Tammy Moreau or Director of Evaluation Akeshia Singleton at 318-443-3394 or 1-800-994-3394.